Golf practice device



Jan. 4, 1949.

v. D. SELL GOLF PRACTICE DEVI CE Filed April 8, 1946 INVENTOR. rnon D. Sell Patented Jan. 4, 1949 UNITED, STATES PATENT OFFICE GOLF PRACTICE DEVICE Vernon D. Sell, Kansas City, Mo. Application April 8 1946, Serial No. 660,391

, 1 Claim. 1

This invention relates to game devices and particularly those relating to the type adapted for practicing the game of golf, and the primary object of the invention is to 'provide such an apparatus wherein is embodied an unique and novel backstop having a plurality of openings formed therein so that the skill of directing the golf ball with respect to its loft and direction of travel is developed.

One of the important objects of this invention is to provide a game having a substantially pyramidal backstop, the walls thereof are disposed at angles with respect to the position of the player to more closely simulate conditions met in playing the regular game, thus teaching the player virtually all the strokes and positions necessary for efficiency in theconventional game of golf.

Other aims of this invention include the provision of a device for practicing the game of golf having a backstop provided with a plurality of openings of different size and disposition to receive the driven. ball whereby the player may compute his score and determine the extent of his progress; the provision of deflectors behind each opening for keeping the driven balls that pass through the openings within a relatively close range to the game device for facilitating the retrieving thereof; and the inclusion of supporting means for the backstop, disposed in such manner that there is little danger of the balls striking that part of the structure.

A yet further object of the invention is to provide specific and novel apparatus for embodying the same, which apparatus will be cheap to manufacture, strong, durable, and free from parts likely to become maladjusted.

Other objects of the invention will appear during the course of the following specification, referring to the accompanying drawing, wherein:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a game device embodying the present invention.

Fig. 2 is a vertical section through the same, taken on line II-II of Fig. 1, and,

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary, cross sectional view taken on line III-III of Fig. 1.

It is well known in this art that practice is required to attain skill in directing a golf ball with respect to both its line of travel and loft. Many games wherein the player strikes a golf ball are on the market, but none include features whereby the various iron and wood clubs are employed for a specific purpose and in a mannor to teach the player proficiency in their use.

It is the broad general object of this invention to provide a game of the aforementioned nature, and one embodiment of the same, shown in the drawings, includes a substantially pyramidal backstop broadly designated by the numeral l0, constructed of heavy canvas or duck and stretched taut so that the balls will strike a yieldable surface when they hit any one of the several walls thereof. Backstop It] comprises a substantially triangular top wall [2 and similarly formed side walls 14 and IB respectively, all of which walls diverge from a common point to form a three-sided frusto-pyramidal structure as clearly illustrated in Fig. 1. The sidewalls l4 and I6 are opposed and joined to the top wall 12 r as at l8. The three walls are held in operative position by framework comprising spaced-apart, upright posts 20 and 22 and a horizontal crossbar 24. Suitable cords or analogous fastening means 26 hold the walls in place within the, said supporting framework.

Each .of the walls I2, l4 and l6-is provided with a centrally disposed aperture designated by the numerals 28, 3B and 32 respectively, and an opening 34 is defined by the rear edges of said walls at the vertex of the backstop Hi to receive golf balls that are accurately driven therethrough. A planar target 36 having an aperture 31 is suspended within the opening 34 and is appreciably smaller in area than the opening 34 whereby to present open space therearound to receive balls directed toward the aperture 31 but not accurately directed to enter aperture 31.

Positioned behind each of the aforesaid apertures 28, 3B and 32 and opening 34 and aperture 31 are suitable deflectors for impeding the travel of golf balls passing through these several openings for causing the ball to fall behind backstop ill Within a relatively small area to facilitate retrieving. of the balls for further use. With respect to the opening 34 and the aperture 3i through the target 36, a flap 38 extends outwardly from the top wall l2 and downwardly to lie directly behind the opening 34 and aperture 31. Additional framework 59 is employed as illustrated in Fig. 2 for holding the flap 33 in position and for cooperating with post 20 and 22 and crossbar 24 to hold the walls of backstop H1 in taut condition.

A flap 42, extending outwardly from each of the walls M and I5 respectively, is supported at its free end by an upright post A i and constitutes a deflector for balls entering the apertures 30 and 32. The deflector for halls entering the aperture 28 comprises an open-bottom pocket 46 carried by the top wall l2, preferably of wire mesh or other suitable material capable of self. support to maintain an open pocket behind the aperture 28.

In order to develop the art of direction and to permit driving the balls to a given opening the player may either attempt to drive the balls directly into the opening which he selects or cause the same to deflect from one of the sloping walls and then into the selected opening. The size of the device will'iva'r'yf according; to the area of the range available for such practice and ac cording to the size of enclosure if constructed for use indoors. Similarly the openings through which the balls are driven will dependin size and disposition upon the conditions and location of the game, I I

Any one of the various clubscommonly used inthe game of. golf may be selected for practice with this device. For instance, the player have ing difiiculty in the manipulation of the putter will attempt to drive balls through opening 34.. The degree-of loftor angle of theface-ot theclub will: determine the opening which the golfer selects; as the target toward which he will attempt to drive the ball. Apertures 30 and 3-Z'Wl1'1: be. used; as- 3" goal when" playing the mid' irong or mashie, while aperture 28- is particularly suited for the n-iblick or the number 8 or 9 iron allin accordance with theparticular difliculties the golfer may be; having in his game withrespect to hooks, undercuts; slices, overdrives, etc.

Manifestly any number of rules may-"beset up, with the use of this device such as designating a balldriven; through the aperture 3-! in the target 38 as a hole-in-one, the opening 3 2 as a birdie, and various oombinations of openings to constitute a par game. Sand boxes 48; positi oned adjacent to the walls 28 and E2 provide additional. hazards when balls land therein after striking backstop it and failing to enter one of the openings. Driving the balls from thesesand boxes into one of the openings corresponds to the usual type of sand trap found on most golf courses.

Many advantages will arise from the employment of a game device having this invention employed therein, and while a large number of the important features have herein been set down, it will be understood that those made possible by the invention are contemplated thereby.

Having thus describedtthe invention, what is claimed as new and desired-to be secured by Letters Patent is:

A device for practicing the game of golf comprising a pyramidal backstop disposed with its axis substantially horizontal and having a pluralit yi of: apertured walls of flexible material and an..opening. formed. at the vertex thereof; framework for supporting the walls in taut condition; an open-bottom deflector for each aperture respectively carried by said walls and extending outwardly from'oneface thereot for changing; the path oftravel of golf balls passing through said? apertures; and a. tanget mounted: within said: opening,v the area of said target being. smaller than-the area of said: opening, said: target having an aperture therethroughappreciably smaller than the apertures in said walls.

v VERNON D: SELL.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are' of record inthe file. ofthispatent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Watson June 9; I936 

